FG, AfDB Partner Stakeholders To Set Up Agro Processing Zones

The Federal Government, is working closely with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other stakeholders, to set up  Special-Agro Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Nigeria

The  programme is aimed at concentrating agro-processing activities in demarcated areas.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who received a briefing on the status of the collaboration on the proposed project on Friday in the State House, Abuja,  commended the progress recorded so far .

Osinbajo in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, says the plan is part of the Buhari administration’s efforts to enhance productivity in the country's  agricultural Sector.

According to the statement, "the collaborative plan is meant to boost productivity and integrate production, processing and marketing of selected commodities,".

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Nanono, and his counterpart in the Industry, Trade and Investment Ministry, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, were also at the meeting.

AfDB’s Acting Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Ms. Toda Atsuko,while  

briefing Prof. Osinbajo on the progress made so far in the implementation of the programme, expressed the  readiness of the bank in collaboration with other stakeholders, to start the first phase of the Special-Agro Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, having completed a joint appraisal mission across the 36 states with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Prof. Osinbajo commended the efforts of all stakeholders on the project noting that “this is a very good progress that we have made and we must ensure this actually works.”

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Nanono, had earlier  welcomed the partnership to establish agro-processing zones across the country,

He  noted  that it would be to the benefit of farmers and the agric sector at large.

Also the Associate Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mr. Donald Brown, who joined virtually, assured that the organisation would co-finance the project with the AfDB with the view to creating an important opportunity for 150,000 small-holder farmers in Nigeria, to improve their farm yields, enhance their income and livelihoods.